Jamie Oliver’s restaurant food chain prepares for insolvency process

21st May 2019

epa06318787 English chef Jamie Oliver attends the presentation of his new cookbook '5 ingredients' held in his restaurant 'Jamie's Italian? in The Hague, The Netherlands, 09 November 2017. EPA-EFE/LEX VAN LIESHOUT

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Over 1,000 jobs are at risk as the restaurant chain set up by the celebrity chef Jamie Oliver prepares to crash into administration just two years after narrowly averting an earlier collapse.

Sky News has learnt that Mr Oliver’s Jamie’s Italian chain and his other venues have lined up KPMG to handle an insolvency process that will be announced later on Tuesday.

The move will put as many as 1300 jobs at risk and deal a blow to the television chef whose inimitable style and entrepreneurial zeal has earned him a vast fortune during the last 20 years.

The insolvency of Jamie’s Italian and its related brands comes amid a torrid time for high street casual dining chains.

Oliver said: “I am deeply saddened by this outcome and would like to thank all of the staff and our suppliers who have put their hearts and souls into this business for over a decade. I appreciate how difficult this is for everyone affected.